Metabolic and Inflammatory Response in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review on Peripheral Neuroimmune Biomarkers

Valerio Dell’Oste, Sara Fantasia, Davide Gravina, Lionella Palego, Laura Betti, Liliana Dell’Osso, Gino Giannaccini and Claudia Carmassi ()
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Valerio Dell’Oste: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Sara Fantasia: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Davide Gravina: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Lionella Palego: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Laura Betti: Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Liliana Dell’Osso: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Gino Giannaccini: Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Claudia Carmassi: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Several heterogeneous pathophysiology pathways have been hypothesized for being involved in the onset and course of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This systematic review aims to summarize the current evidence on the role of inflammation and immunological dysregulations in PTSD, investigating possible peripheral biomarkers linked to the neuroimmune response to stress. A total of 44 studies on the dysregulated inflammatory and metabolic response in subjects with PTSD with respect to controls were included. Eligibility criteria included full-text publications in the English language, human adult samples, studies involving both subjects with a clinical diagnosis of PTSD and a healthy control group. The research was focused on specific blood neuroimmune biomarkers, namely IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and INF-γ, as well as on the potential harmful role of reduced antioxidant activity (involving catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase). The possible role of the inflammatory-altered tryptophan metabolism was also explored. The results showed conflicting data on the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in individuals with PTSD, and a lack of study regarding the other mediators investigated. The present research suggests the need for further studies in human samples to clarify the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of PTSD, to define potential peripheral biomarkers.

Keywords: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); biomarkers; proinflammatory cytokines; catalase (CAT); superoxide dismutase (SOD); glutathione peroxidase (GPx); tryptophan metabolism; kynurenine; quinolinic acid; melatonin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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